Curated OER
The Formation and Value of Temperate Grasslands
Students get an overview of the climate and organisms of the North American Prairie. After a lecture, and watching some videos imbedded in this plan, students compile research data on the North American Prairie.
Curated OER
How Much is Dirt Worth?
Fourth graders graph the percentages of the materials that make up the Earth and complete computations based on their results. In this topsoil lesson, 4th graders diagram the different layers of Earth's composition.
Curated OER
Space Science: A Scoop of Moon Dirt
Students discover soil characteristics and how it is formed on Earth and the Moon by examining local samples to a lunar simulant. They replicate the effects of wind erosion by scraping dry bread with sandpaper. Students use rocks and...
Curated OER
Site Formation In Archaeology
Students look at the findings of a Hopi Indian dig site in order to reconstruct the sequence of events that occurred in the past. They examine the stratigraphy while making multiple hypothesis about the artifacts and their locations at...
Curated OER
Exploring Great Salt Lake
Fourth graders go on a field trip to make observations about plants in the Great Salt Lake area. They make observations about the environment and record the types of pants that are living there. The instructional activity is to introduce...
Curated OER
Cavern Geology: Speleothem Construction
Students discover how underground rock formations grow. They perform various activities based on grade level.
Curated OER
Google Earth Scavenger Hunt
Learners complete activities to learn how to use Google Earth and study Alaska. For this Google Earth lesson, students complete a Google Earth scavenger hunt to find facts about Alaska. Learners complete two worksheets for the topic.
Curated OER
The Earth is a Changin'
Students view examples of different types of erosion. In this erosion lesson, students discuss the different types of erosion and how erosion changes Earth. Students explore erosion and the effect it has on engineering.
Curated OER
Rock and Roll with Music and Movement
Fourth graders improvise music and dance to express their analysis of types of rocks. They discuss the three classes of rocks, list describing words, and create a short musical piece and dance to symbolize the rock they are dancing.
Curated OER
Find Yourself with Global Positioning
Students examine different types of new mapping technologies. They use the internet to gather information about mapping and navigation. They create their own global positioning tool and defend it to the class.
Curated OER
What's The Level?
Young scholars examine the movement of the water table and saturation zones. They describe the movements of the water table and locate the saturation zones. Students identify the function of each saturation zone. They develop a model of...
Curated OER
Earthquake!
Students gain an understanding of earthquakes. They examine vocabulary associated with earthquakes, how earthquakes happen, and preventive measures taken to diminish damage or harm in the event that an earthquake should happen.
Curated OER
Everyone Up!
Students examine various agriculture careers, both direct and indirect, related to crop production and distribution. In this food production lesson, students role play the processing chain in which crops move from producer to processor...
Curated OER
Map Reading
After examining a map from 1803 and 2003, they explore how to become map readers. They describe what they see on the map from 1803 and compare the information to the map from 2003. Students create their own map of the neighborhood that...
Other
Agronomy: Soil Formation [Pdf]
Soils may be formed in place from rock or formed in weathered rock and minerals that have been transported from where the original rock occurred.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Get Down and Dirty: How Does Soil Change With Depth?
What covers less than 10% of the Earth's surface, yet is a vital natural resource for terrestrial life? What filters ground water and supports most of our food production, not to mention the production of building materials and paper?...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Dirt on Soil
This interactive website explores the various soil layers and introduces you to the lifeforms that live in those soil layers.
eSchool Today
E School Today: Your Revision Notes All About Soils
Learn what soils are and why they are important. Discusses soil profiles, types of soils, soil conservation, soil ecosystems, and soil formation.
Utah Education Network
Uen: The Dirt on Soil
After completing this lesson, young scholars will understand the source and the process for the formation of soil, the different types of soil, and the components of soil.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Soil Investigations
Young scholars learn the basics about soil, including its formation, characteristics and importance. They are also introduced to soil profiles and how engineers conduct site investigations to learn about soil quality for development,...
Other
Pipeline: Soil Characteristics Demystifying Dirt [Pdf]
Soil is the foundation of conventional on site wastewater treatment.The drainfields used with on site systems work because the soil around the trenches acts as a filter and removes organic matter, some of the nutrients present in...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rock Cycle
Through five lessons, students are introduced to all facets of the rock cycle. Topics include rock and mineral types, material stresses and weathering, geologic time and fossil formation, the Earth's crust and tectonic plates, and soil...
The Field Museum
Field Museum: Exhibits: Underground Adventure
The Chicago Field Museum provides a comprehensive soil education project covering topics such as soil structure and organisms living underground. Students can use the site for research or do the full-blown project, where they establish a...